Mat leave and returning to work

[xxx28xxx]

Hi

Is anyone else finding the mat leave process quite confusing? I plan to speak to hr again this week for clarification but in the meantime I wondered what others were doing. Basically we can only afford for me to take 9 months off so at the end of 9 months I would like to be paid for my outstanding a/l, public holidays etc which I think my work do. Getting paid would mean I could split the money out over 2 months rather than just take 1 months worth of a/l at the end of my mat leave.

If I decide to return to work I need to give them 8 weeks notice so do you think I do this and ask for the money to be paid? Or do you think it would be easier for me to ask work to pay me for everything before my mat leave even starts? They are willing to do this. I'm just so confused lol. I know I will get what I'm entitled to but my priority is having enough money to be off as long as possible with the baby.

Second part, if I decide I want to return part time when should I start this discussion with my employer? They tend to be pretty slow getting the ball rolling...

Any advice would be great, TIA

[Mummytobe2014]

Hi xxx i too am taking 9 months then i intend on taking my accrued holiday at the end and for it to be paid at that point! Although i have told them this i need to confirm it to them closer to the time. I also intend on going back part time which i have told my manager who has agreed but again its something i need to discuss with hr closer to my return.I know that you need to give them plenty of notice to put in place and have agreed etc but it really depends on your company policies.
I didnt have the option to take all money owed for holidays before my mat leave but not sure i wld take that option anyway, so thats up to you i guess. You will probably get keeping in touch days which you get a full days wage for so you could use one of those to go in a discuss your options?

[xxx28xxx]

Hi mummy tobe

Thanks for ur reply, sounds like u are in a similar position to me! I will speak to hr this week to let them know I plan to take 9 months then my holidays after so I end up getting 10/10.5 months off.

Do u think I should speak to my line manager about going part time before I go off then? My colleague recently returned part time and it took them 5 months to sort it all out so I am abit worried about telling them too late :s

[2blessed]

Im taking 9 months mat leave and then annual leave so will amount to me being off for almost 11 months - yippee!

[Honeybear30]

Hi 28

5 months to arrange part time working sounds awful! All employers are different, some won't consider a part time request before you go off on Mat leave but then some will be pleased to put this in place ASAP. I guess you could have the conversation so they have warning? Then hopefully it won't take long to arrange by the time it actually needs to happen.

I'm surprised they said they'd pay you your annual leave before it's owed. What if you changed your mind and resigned part way through your leave? (Not that this is likely of course!).

[Mummytobe2014]

I wanted to discuss this with my manager because i wanted to know it was possible without changing roles etc and also that she was happy for me to do so. I think if thats your plan it wouldnt do any harm discussing before you leave. I agree with pp that five months to get sorted is a long time and cld mean you end up working full time until it gets sorted (if you forget to get arranged during mat leave) i wld have a conversation with hr and line manager initially but depending on policies you may not be able to put in place yet and also i guess your circumstances could change!?
I will look forward to some full pay again after nine months so definately wouldnt take it sooner.

[xxx28xxx]

Thanks for all the advice. I think an informal chat about my plans upon return would be sensible, at least that way they will know it is coming. Or likewise they might be able to tell me that it won't be possible as I know they don't have to honour these requests but that inane the right to request them. Just trying to get everything straight in my head before I if josh off next month :)

[xxx28xxx]

Omg blooming autocorrect on iPad is shocking!